Quade captained Queanbeyan for eight years, including their 2012 premiership in the North East Australian Football League eastern conference.

The key position player retired in 2017 after 240 games with the Tigers.

But with strong family ties to Ariah Park, Brian Quade's son has been keen to play with the Jets.

Coach Josh Avis is thrilled to have the 35-year-old.

"Absolutely. He's played a lot of footy in Canberra and that's not a bad standard of footy to be quite experienced in," Avis said.

"There's no real big grounds in the Farrer League, it doesn't seem to get out and open a lot so it probably will suit him. He'll be able to be more of a general."

Quade kicked 26 goals for Queanbeyan in his final season in AFL Canberra's first grade competition.

He kicked the same in 2015 in a season in the Hume League (the year after he finished playing NEAFL) and helped Henty to the grand final.

At the Jets, Quade is set to anchor the defence.

"He'll probably step into the centre-half-back role. That frees up Brad McKinnon to give him that licence to run off half-back," Avis said.

"So it just adds a big body and big presence in our backline that hopefully results in us getting a lot of drive out of our backline."

Quade's resume also includes an AFL Canberra premiership with Sydney Swans reserves back in 2005.

"We've got a lot of young blokes in the mix, as we always seem to at the Jets, so any time you can add an experienced head can make a huge difference - even for little things like an encouraging voice, or setting up the backline," Avis said.

Avis has no doubt Quade has plenty to offer.

"Your footy shouldn't always be measured in your touches, sometimes it's the impact you have off the footy," he said.

"Someone with that wealth of experience and knowledge, I think he's going to be able to assert himself as a bit of a leader in our backline.

"I think that'll be really helpful to us. And he's got a bit of size about him, which we really need at the Jets."

The club has been impressed by Quade's commitment, and his fitness.

He won't play in their first trial match, against Culcairn on Saturday, but they hope to slot him in for their final preparation.

"We've got a second trial match the week before the season starts, against Coolamon. So we hope to give him a quick run in that, see how he moves and plays his footy, and what his strengths are going to be," Avis said.

The signing continues a good off-season for the Jets who have welcomed back former co-coach Sam Fisher (from AFL Canberra) and signed Toby Blissett from Griffith Swans.

The Jets face a fierce first few weeks of the season, beginning with premiers North Wagga at McPherson Oval on April 4.

In round two, they'll host last year's runners-up, and potential premiership favourites this year, East Wagga-Kooringal at Ariah Park.

And in round three they travel to Marrar to take on the Bombers for a Sunday game after Anzac Day.